Most Realistic (and pretty) Passenger Train?

I don't count rivets.  Counted enough rivets when I worked sheetmetal at Howard Aero Service in SA.

I like passenger trains.  Mostly colorful ones.  Mine sit on the shelf but that is good enough for me.  Yours is great, one of my favorites with or without diaphragms and passengers.

Well, I’m a little biased, but I think the 1999 version of the Erie Lackawanna’s Phoebe Snow.

Since you didn't indicate what your minimum curves are, it is pretty hard to recommend ANY "most realistic" passenger train. If you have large enough curves, the absolute best "most realistic" SCALE passenger train available in O-Gauge 3-Rail, would be the full SP Daylight set, from Golden Gate Depot (it includes the 3-section articulated diner and articulated chair cars).

Michael, a photo of your Daylight Special passenger set would have been nice. I've always been partial to the Santa Fe Super Chief, even though not as colorful as the Daylight trains. I like the silver.

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Michael, a photo of your Daylight Special passenger set would have been nice. I've always been partial to the Santa Fe Super Chief, even though not as colorful as the Daylight trains. I like the silver.

Thank you for sharing these beautiful cars. I too love passenger cars, also in a variety of gauges and eras. This little Super Chief observation car from the recent starter Lion Chief set reignited a love of O and a new found love of S and Standard for me. Since I took this picture in very late December 2018, I’ve added many more elaborate observation cars to the collection. Many. Lol. And this leads me to what we all recognize is a bit of an obsession. 😎

Lionel 6-39169   Atlantic Coastline Aluminum Passenger Set

https://www.google.com/search?...imgrc=G8J4hF914tTf5M

Someday.

John

@Hot Water posted:

Since you didn't indicate what your minimum curves are, it is pretty hard to recommend ANY "most realistic" passenger train. If you have large enough curves, the absolute best "most realistic" SCALE passenger train available in O-Gauge 3-Rail, would be the full SP Daylight set, from Golden Gate Depot (it includes the 3-section articulated diner and articulated chair cars).

Largest minimum curve is 0-84

First off, many, many thanks to forumite @Mike Casatelli for the following pix.  I'll take any of these (so far the only set I have is the top one (3rd-Rail Mercury), the Dreyfuss Hudson on shelf 3, and a RailSounds 2.5 board assembly from the Commodore Vanderbilt on shelf 2):

See Mike's post for more detail on his collection:

   Art Deco vs Streamlined Modern / Depression Modern | Mike Casatelli

Thanks Mike!

Mike

Any plated Santa Fe with a F3 & F7, Daylight Steam, Union Pacific Steam and Southern Pacific.

@Michael Hokkanen posted:

So, in your opinion - adding REALISM and BEAUTY, diesel or steam, what would be a great passenger train to run instead of what I have?

The "Realism" requirement eliminates all 15" passenger trains, and there have been some excellent ones, especially from K-Line.

For scale "Realism and Beauty," my hands down favorite is the GGD Northern Pacific North Coast Limited.

How about this K-Line NP 'North Coast Ltd'?

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Michael, a photo of your Daylight Special passenger set would have been nice. I've always been partial to the Santa Fe Super Chief, even though not as colorful as the Daylight trains. I like the silver.

Where is this Santa Fe drumhead from?

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

First off, many, many thanks to forumite @Mike Casatelli for the following pix.  I'll take any of these (so far the only set I have is the top one (3rd-Rail Mercury), the Dreyfuss Hudson on shelf 3, and a RailSounds 2.5 board assembly from the Commodore Vanderbilt on shelf 2):

See Mike's post for more detail on his collection:

   Art Deco vs Streamlined Modern / Depression Modern | Mike Casatelli

Thanks Mike!

Mike

I had envisioned something very similar for my living room...albeit smaller lengths (but not by much).  Then the realization of dust put a stop to uncovered locomotives.  Any ideas on who made these shelves?

Anthony

My vote would be for this SMR US Military Railroad consist - the pictured version is 2 rail but SMR made the same "set" in 3 rail as well (engine and cars were offered at different times).

@Sal V posted:

Where is this Santa Fe drumhead from?

Sal, the Santa Fe drumhead was built into the car by Lionel. These 6 cars were issued only in 2004 as a 4-car set and an additional 2-car add-on set. They are 15” cars, because my layout has only 036 curves.

@WRW posted:

Thank you for sharing these beautiful cars. I too love passenger cars, also in a variety of gauges and eras. This little Super Chief observation car from the recent starter Lion Chief set reignited a love of O and a new found love of S and Standard for me. Since I took this picture in very late December 2018, I’ve added many more elaborate observation cars to the collection. Many. Lol. And this leads me to what we all recognize is a bit of an obsession. 😎

My pleasure, WRW. I think a collection of observation cars would be fun and quite unique. 👍

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Michael, a photo of your Daylight Special passenger set would have been nice. I've always been partial to the Santa Fe Super Chief, even though not as colorful as the Daylight trains. I like the silver.

Your pictures are outstanding. My problem with putting some up is that my photographs and video are on my iPhone and I usually access OGR through my Mac.... I have had a little trouble sending, receiving, and posting pictures between the two.....

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

First off, many, many thanks to forumite @Mike Casatelli for the following pix.  I'll take any of these (so far the only set I have is the top one (3rd-Rail Mercury), the Dreyfuss Hudson on shelf 3, and a RailSounds 2.5 board assembly from the Commodore Vanderbilt on shelf 2):

See Mike's post for more detail on his collection:

   Art Deco vs Streamlined Modern / Depression Modern | Mike Casatelli

Thanks Mike!

Mike

Killer curved glass shelves!!!

MTH PS3 NY Central F3 and passenger cars:

I'm rather fond of my Flyer C&O set:

Rusty

@Hot Water posted:

Since you didn't indicate what your minimum curves are, it is pretty hard to recommend ANY "most realistic" passenger train. If you have large enough curves, the absolute best "most realistic" SCALE passenger train available in O-Gauge 3-Rail, would be the full SP Daylight set, from Golden Gate Depot (it includes the 3-section articulated diner and articulated chair cars).

I would agree but would add to this list the following GGD trains:

• The Canadian
• The '53 Super Cheif
• The Lark
• The North Coast Limited
• The 1938 Broadway Limited in "Fleet of Modernism" paint.
• The 1938 20th Century Limited
• The Hiawatha

In the 3 rail world, beyond the Smithsonian Lionel 20th Century Limited not much else comes close to pretty and realistic.

How about the 1950 UP Anniversary Set?

@GG1 4877 posted:

I would agree but would add to this list the following GGD trains:

• The Canadian
• The '53 Super Cheif
• The Lark
• The North Coast Limited
• The 1938 Broadway Limited in "Fleet of Modernism" paint.
• The 1938 20th Century Limited
• The Hiawatha

In the 3 rail world, beyond the Smithsonian Lionel 20th Century Limited not much else comes close to pretty and realistic.

SP Daylight Definitely my favorite. These are ALL great really great too. I’d add the “regular” Broadway too.
BUT……..I like later “mixed” consists too !!!  I submit here a nice, very Realistic late Southern Pacific GGD consist I’ve pulled from sets with a MTH GS2 on the point. Cars in the consist are a Harriman baggage, Daylight 2 car articulated chair car, late silver/red stripe diner, Sunset Ltd 10-4, and late silver/red stripe observation. A soon to be delivered 3/4 dome in Daylight or silver/red stripe will be a sweet addition to this consist. Only thing lacking  is a gray Lark car.
Mixed consists can be a lot of fun.
Cheers !!!

While Lionel 21” cars are very impressive, they are also expensive and the length might not look right even on O84 curves.  I lie MTH premier 18” cars.  They are generic, not prototypical, but they are nice looking cars and for me anyway they are just the right length.  Best looking to me is B&O.

I always liked the D&RGW yellow and silver 5 stripe heavyweight cars done by Kline.

I had a set but foolishly sold them....

Although I'm a Lionel loyalist (and also a collector of Rock Island trains), I bought the RI TA diesel and matching articulated passenger cars offered by Sunset 3rd Rail.  It's the most expensive train set I've ever bought. It rests on a display shelf in my Train Room.  The brass loco shows marvelous details.

This train and other RI trains (including the MTH model of the fabulous but impractical RI AEROTRAIN) bring back memories of my riding the RI PEORIA ROCKET to/from Chicago as a teenager traveling from home in Peoria to a boarding academy in La Grange, IL), a Chicago suburb. Those were the days!  Photo and a video are attached.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

Lots of good stuff here.....

Really appreciated.